The researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducted a study to investigate the spread of drug particles in crime laboratories that conduct forensic analyses. They used glow powder and black lights to test the State Police's forensic lab to analyze how the particles spread through the workspaces when analysing illegal drug evidence.
Based on their findings, the researchers suggest that while such spread is not entirely avoidable, chemists need to be especially careful with highly potent synthetic compounds such as fentanyl that pose an occupational hazard. Additionally, given that drug dealers often mix small amounts of fentanyl in cocaine and heroin, scientists using sensitive instruments need to take measures to prevent the evidence of one case from contaminating another.
